Near-Miss Reporting

A near miss is an event that could have hurt someone but did not, such as a tool falling from a scaffold and landing where a person had just been standing. The same cause that missed today may injure someone tomorrow. Reporting near misses is one of the cheapest ways to prevent injuries.

• All Workers
• Supervisors
• Employers

What counts

• A dropped object that lands near people
• A vehicle or equipment that nearly hits a worker
• A trip, slip or stumble that was caught
• A guard found missing, a frayed cord, a leaking hose or a failed alarm
• A near electrical contact or gas smell
• A rule that was bypassed, even if nothing went wrong

Hazards you notice but that have not yet caused an event are also worth reporting. See Safety Observations.

Why people don't report

• Fear of blame, discipline or being seen as a complainer
• Belief that nothing will change
• Paperwork that feels long or confusing
• Pressure to keep a "days without an accident" record

Retaliation for reporting safety concerns can be illegal. See Whistleblower Protection.

How to report

1. Make the area safe if you can, and tell your supervisor or safety lead right away.
2. Write down what happened, where, when, who was nearby and what could have gone wrong.
3. Use the company's form, app, hotline or suggestion box. A short note is better than none.
4. Say what you think caused it and how it could be fixed.

What a good system does

• Keeps reporting simple, fast and open to everyone, including subcontractors
• Treats reports as learning, not blame
• Reviews each report quickly and assigns a fix and a date. See Incident Investigation
• Shares the lessons in toolbox talks and tells the reporter what was done. See Toolbox Talks
• Tracks trends, such as repeated falling objects, to find root causes. See Leading & Lagging Indicators
• Thanks and recognizes people who report

Last updated: October 8, 2026